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The Rockies and Royals swapped disappointing left-handers. Jonathan Sanchez goes to Colorado and Brian Guthrie goes to KC. I was not a fan of Guthrie with Colorado, his skill set (fly balls) isn't a match for Coors field. I expect he'll have better results in KC.

Sanchez has been a mess, and as a Dodger fan I won't be rooting for Colorado to straighten him out.

In Sanchez's first full year, 2008, he was roughed up at Coors Field. In three starts he pitched 18.1 innings, gave up 20 hits and nine walks...5.88 ERA while striking out 16.

But in the following three years he was pretty good at Coors....29.1 innings, 17 hits, 16 walks, 31 strikeouts, 3.07 ERA.

Colorado may think that Sanchez is still that '09 through '11 guy who is successful at Coors. Or perhaps since Colorado is currently last among 30 teams with a 5.31 ERA, they have to do something, even if it is just exchanging one problem leftie for another.

Or maybe the Rockies just wanted to get younger and cheaper. Sanchez is 29 to Guthrie's 33. Guthrie is making 8 million a season, Sanchez can fail at the bargain rate of 5.6 million a year.

In Sanchez's first full year, 2008, he was roughed up at Coors Field. In three starts he pitched 18.1 innings, gave up 20 hits and nine walks...5.88 ERA while striking out 16.

But in the following three years he was pretty good at Coors....29.1 innings, 17 hits, 16 walks, 31 strikeouts, 3.07 ERA.

Colorado may think that Sanchez is still that '09 through '11 guy who is successful at Coors. Or perhaps since Colorado is currently last among 30 teams with a 5.31 ERA, they have to do something, even if it is just exchanging one problem leftie for another.

Or maybe the Rockies just wanted to get younger and cheaper. Sanchez is 29 to Guthrie's 33. Guthrie is making 8 million a season, Sanchez can fail at the bargain rate of 5.6 million a year.

The advantage that Sanchez has over Guthrie is that Sanchez can get more strike outs. That's especially important in Coors where batted balls are more likely to end up has home runs or other types of hits.

Likewise, Guthrie's flyballing ways will fare better in Kaufman which supresses home runs

The advantage that Sanchez has over Guthrie is that Sanchez can get more strike outs. That's especially important in Coors where batted balls are more likely to end up has home runs or other types of hits.

Likewise, Guthrie's flyballing ways will fare better in Kaufman which supresses home runs

I doubt it in this case. I think it is mere desperation on the part of both clubs, a cosmetic change to try and make the fans think that the clubs are at least trying to improve.

Whatever gain the Rockies would receive from the increased strikeouts by Sanchez, is likely to be lost by his inferior control. Guthrie (btw...he is Jeremy, not Brian) has walked 2.7 batters per nine innings over his career, Sanchez issues five free passes per nine innings.

I doubt it in this case. I think it is mere desperation on the part of both clubs, a cosmetic change to try and make the fans think that the clubs are at least trying to improve.

Whatever gain the Rockies would receive from the increased strikeouts by Sanchez, is likely to be lost by his inferior control. Guthrie (btw...he is Jeremy, not Brian) has walked 2.7 batters per nine innings over his career, Sanchez issues five free passes per nine innings.

I don't see it that way.

The Royals need some sort of dependability in their rotation. Guthrie is more likely to give them that than Sanchez.

Guthrie was a failed experiment in Colorado. He wasn't going to provide value for them this year. Sanchez has a small chance of being a useful pitcher for them.

It's a pretty good trade for the Royals and a lottery ticket for Colorado

The Rockies and Royals swapped disappointing left-handers. Jonathan Sanchez goes to Colorado and Brian Guthrie goes to KC. I was not a fan of Guthrie with Colorado, his skill set (fly balls) isn't a match for Coors field. I expect he'll have better results in KC.

In my defense, his batted ball profile according to Batted Ball FIP suggests that he should have given up 3.81 runs per 9 innings instead of the 9 runs per 9 he actually gave up.

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